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¹ International Center for Livestock Research and Training, 06852, Ankara, Türkiye
² Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Türkiye - This study focused on the Akkaraman sheep breed, specifically examining the preweaning growth characteristics and Kleiber ratio, within the framework of Türkiye`s National Community-Based Small Ruminant Breeding Program. The research involved Akkaraman lambs born between 2017 and 2021 across 20 farms in the Ankara province. The dataset comprised 19,119 observations, covering key attributes such as birth weight, weaning weight, average daily weight gain, and the Kleiber ratio. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify outliers, assess normality, and develop linear models to explore the impact of environmental factors on the traits. Birth weight was significantly influenced by sex, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. Weaning weight exhibited significant variations based on the same factors, emphasizing the importance of gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. Average daily weight gain was notably affected by gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, flock size, and environmental factors, emphasizing their impact on growth. The Kleiber ratio demonstrated significant variations influenced by gender, birth type, birth season, birth year, and flock size. The results highlighted the intricate interplay between environmental factors and pre-weaning growth traits in the Akkaraman sheep breed. The study contributes valuable insights to enhance productivity and underscores the potential of the Akkaraman breed in Türkiye's overall agricultural development, considering its adaptability to arid climates and challenging pasture conditions. Keywords : Pre-weaning growth traits, Kleiber ratio, Environmental factors, Akkaraman Sheep